Faculty Collaboration Database

Inhibition of Candida albicans growth by calprotectin in the absence of direct contact with the organisms. J Infect Dis 1996 Dec;174(6):1369-72

Date

12/01/1996

Pubmed ID

8940237

DOI

10.1093/infdis/174.6.1369

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0029828249 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   82 Citations

Abstract

Calprotectin is a calcium- and zinc-binding protein that is present in neutrophil cytoplasm and abscess fluid supernatants. This protein appears to inhibit microbial growth through competition for zinc; however, experiments to show that calprotectin can inhibit growth of microorganisms across filter membranes have yielded conflicting results to date. To prevent recontamination of the filtrate by zinc in this type of experiment, Candida albicans was cultured on filter membranes placed on top of an agarose gel containing calprotectin. In these studies, calprotectin in the gels underneath did suppress growth on top of the filters, an effect reversible by 30 microM ZnSO4. In other experiments, the protein did not adhere to the organisms and later suppress their growth. These results indicate that calprotectin inhibits C. albicans growth in the absence of direct contact with the organisms; the findings support a zinc-deprivation mechanism of antimicrobial activity for this protein.

Author List

Sohnle PG, Hahn BL, Santhanagopalan V

Author

Peter G. Sohnle MS, MD Emeritus Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Bacteriological Techniques
Body Fluids
Candida albicans
Cell Culture Techniques
Culture Media
Empyema
Humans
Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex
Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules
Zinc